Governor Calls Special Session on Health Reform

Governor Brown is calling a special legislative session to implement parts of the federal health care overhaul in California. Brown issued a proclamation Thursday calling on lawmakers to convene Monday. The governor says California needs to tweak some state laws to conform to new federal rules on health coverage. The state will need to make it easier for people to enroll in Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid. The governor also is asking lawmakers to make accommodations for low-income individuals within the exchange. California was the first state to authorize a health insurance exchange, which will be an online marketplace for buying insurance, after passage of the federal Affordable Care Act in 2010. The governor also has committed to expanding Medicaid coverage for low-income Californians according to a recent report at www.KWBAM.com